HSK writing practice

Practice prompts for the open writing tasks on the new HSK, from writing one sentence at HSK 3 to a 300-character essay at HSK 6. Write your answer in the box, check the character count, then compare it with the sample. The prompts are our own, modelled on CTI’s official sample papers.

Writing tasks on the new HSK by level
Level	Minutes	Tasks
HSK 2	10	Q51–55: Choose the character component (for example 氵 or 子) that matches a picture. Q56–60: Write the one missing character in a sentence. The pinyin of the whole sentence is given.
HSK 3	20	Q61–65: Write the missing character in a sentence, with no pinyin given. Q66–70: Write a sentence using a given word (for example 羽毛球, 饱, 结婚).
HSK 4	25	Q65–69: Look at a picture and write a sentence using a given word (for example 结账, 幅, 活泼). Q70: Write a short essay of at least 80 characters on a topic (the sample: your most memorable trip).
HSK 5	40	Q71: Write a story of at least 100 characters based on four pictures. Q72: Write a topic essay of at least 200 characters (the sample: a time you tried something new and how you felt).
HSK 6	45	Q81: Practical writing of at least 150 characters (the sample: an online ad for a flatmate). Q82: An argument essay of at least 300 characters (the sample: does technology help or hold back human development?).

From CTI’s official HSK 3.0 sample papers. HSK 1 has no writing section.

Before you start

HSK 2 and the first half of the HSK 3 writing section ask you to write single characters. Practise those on the character pages, which show stroke order for every character on the writing list. This page covers the tasks where you write your own sentences and texts.

CTI has not published a detailed marking scheme for the new writing tasks. The sample papers set a minimum length, and the usual advice from teachers holds: answer the task you were given, use the given word correctly, write characters you are sure of, and keep sentences short enough that you can control the grammar.

Your answers are saved in this browser as you type, so you can come back to them. On the computer-based test you type your answers; on the paper test you write them by hand. If you are taking the paper test, copy your answers onto squared paper as well.

HSK 3

Write a sentence with a given word

HSK 3, questions 66–70. You get one word and write one sentence that uses it correctly.

礼物

Write a sentence using 礼物 (gift).

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这是我送给妈妈的生日礼物。
- 送给 + person is the natural verb for giving a gift.
- A short sentence with a clear subject and verb is enough for full marks.
习惯

Write a sentence using 习惯 (habit; to be used to).

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我已经习惯每天早上六点起床了。
- 习惯 can be a verb: 习惯 + doing something.
- 已经…了 shows the change has happened.
担心

Write a sentence using 担心 (to worry).

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别担心，我会照顾好自己的。
- 别担心 is a very common way to reassure someone.
- 会…的 makes a promise sound natural.
迟到

Write a sentence using 迟到 (to be late).

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今天路上车太多，所以他上班迟到了。
- 迟到 takes no object: say 上班迟到, not 迟到上班.
- 因为/所以 gives an easy reason.
机会

Write a sentence using 机会 (chance, opportunity).

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我希望有机会去中国学习汉语。
- 有机会 + verb is the usual pattern.
- Check the characters you write: 希望, 学习.

HSK 4

Write a sentence about a picture

HSK 4, questions 65–69. You get a picture and a word, and write one sentence that uses the word and fits the picture.

排队

Picture: tickets. Write a sentence using 排队 (to queue).

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买票的人很多，我们只好在门口排队。
- 排队 can split around a length of time: 排了半个小时队.
- Say who, what, and something about the picture.
整理

Picture: a pile of books. Write a sentence using 整理 (to tidy, sort).

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周末我把桌子上的书整理了一下。
- 把 + object + 整理 + 一下 is natural for tidying something.
- Name the object so the sentence matches the picture.
祝贺

Picture: a trophy. Write a sentence using 祝贺 (to congratulate).

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祝贺你在这次比赛中得了第一名！
- 祝贺 + person + (event) is the pattern.
- 在…中 sets the context: 在比赛中.
堵车

Picture: a car. Write a sentence using 堵车 (traffic jam).

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下班的时候经常堵车，所以我更愿意坐地铁。
- 堵车 works as a verb phrase on its own.
- A second clause with 所以 shows you can link ideas.

Short essay

HSK 4 question 70 (at least 80 characters) and HSK 5 question 72 (at least 200 characters).

请写一篇短文，谈谈你一次难忘的经历，不少于80字。

Write a short essay titled “An experience I won’t forget”, at least 80 characters. Suggested time: 15 minutes.

0 characters / 80 minimum
Show a sample answer (104 characters)

去年夏天，我和朋友第一次去上海旅游。到了以后，我们才发现忘了带护照，不能住酒店。我们都很着急。这时，一位老人帮我们给朋友打电话，还请我们去他家吃饭。第二天，朋友把护照送来了。这次经历让我明白，出门前要认真准备，也让我感受到了别人的热情。
- Plan: when and where, what went wrong, what happened, what you learned.
- About 120 characters is plenty. Going far over the minimum adds risk without adding marks.
- Use links like 到了以后, 这时, 第二天 to move the story forward.
请写一篇短文，介绍你的一个爱好，不少于80字。

Write a short essay about one of your hobbies, at least 80 characters. Suggested time: 15 minutes.

0 characters / 80 minimum
Show a sample answer (91 characters)

我的爱好是做饭。上大学的时候，我一个人住，只好自己学着做菜。刚开始我做得很难吃，后来我在网上看了很多做菜的视频，慢慢地越做越好。现在周末我经常请朋友来家里吃饭。做饭不但让我放松，而且让我交到了很多朋友。
- Say what the hobby is, how it started, how it changed, and why you like it.
- 不但…而且… is a good way to finish with two reasons.

HSK 5

Story from four pictures

HSK 5, question 71. Four pictures tell a story; you write it in at least 100 characters.

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Pictures: rain, an umbrella, a hug, a happy face. Write a story of at least 100 characters. Suggested time: 15 minutes.

0 characters / 100 minimum
Show a sample answer (105 characters)

那天下午突然下起了大雨。我站在公司门口，没有带伞，心里很着急。这时，一位不认识的女孩走过来，说：“我们一起走吧。”她把伞分给我一半，一直把我送到地铁站。分别的时候，我想请她喝杯咖啡表示感谢，她笑着说不用。虽然衣服湿了一点儿，但是我心里特别温暖。
- One or two sentences per picture: the problem, the help, the thanks, the feeling.
- Add a time and a place in the first sentence.
- Direct speech (她说：“…”) makes a story easy to follow.
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Pictures: a bag, a police officer, money, a thumbs-up. Write a story of at least 100 characters. Suggested time: 15 minutes.

0 characters / 100 minimum
Show a sample answer (104 characters)

周六早上，小王在公园散步的时候，看到椅子上有一个黑色的包。他等了半个小时，也没有人回来拿。于是，他把包送到了附近的派出所。警察打开包，发现里面有不少钱和一张身份证。很快，包的主人就找来了，他非常感谢小王。小王说，这是每个人都应该做的事。
- Give the main character a name in the first line.
- 于是 and 很快 help move from picture to picture.

Short essay

HSK 4 question 70 (at least 80 characters) and HSK 5 question 72 (at least 200 characters).

请以“第一次尝试”为题，写一篇短文，谈谈你第一次做某件事的经历和感受，不少于200字。

Write an essay titled “Trying something for the first time”: what you did and how you felt. At least 200 characters. Suggested time: 25 minutes.

0 characters / 200 minimum
Show a sample answer (212 characters)

去年，我第一次参加了长跑比赛。说实话，报名以后我就有点儿后悔了，因为我平时很少运动，跑三公里都觉得累。
为了不放弃，我给自己做了一个计划：每天早上跑步半小时，周末再跑远一点儿。刚开始的两个星期最难，腿每天都疼。可是慢慢地，我发现自己能跑得越来越远了。朋友们知道以后，也常常陪我一起跑。
比赛那天，我用了两个多小时才跑完十公里，是最后几名之一。但是当我跑过终点的时候，心里特别激动。这次尝试让我明白，很多事情看起来很难，只要一步一步坚持下去，就一定能完成。以后，我还想参加更多的比赛。
- Three paragraphs: before (why it was hard), during (what you did), after (what you learned).
- Aim for 220–280 characters so you are safely over the minimum.
- One clear lesson at the end, with a structure like 只要…就….
现在很多人离不开手机。请谈谈手机给你的生活带来的变化，不少于200字。

Many people can’t do without their phones. Write about how your phone has changed your life. At least 200 characters. Suggested time: 25 minutes.

0 characters / 200 minimum
Show a sample answer (207 characters)

手机给我的生活带来了很大的变化。
首先，生活变得更方便了。买东西、付钱、叫车、查地图，用手机几分钟就能完成。我和家人虽然住在两个城市，但是每天都可以视频聊天。
其次，手机也让我学到了很多东西。我在手机上听新闻、学外语，坐地铁的时间也没有浪费。遇到不懂的问题，上网查一下就知道答案了。
不过，手机也带来了一些问题。有时候我一玩就是几个小时，晚上睡得很晚，第二天上班没有精神。所以，现在我给自己定了一个规定：睡觉前一个小时不看手机。我觉得，手机是好东西，关键是要学会合理地使用它。
- 首先, 其次, 不过, 所以 give the essay a clear shape.
- Give one personal example for each point.

HSK 6

Practical writing and argument essay

HSK 6, questions 81–82: a practical text of at least 150 characters and an argument essay of at least 300.

你想在网上发一则合租广告，寻找一位室友。请说明房子的位置、条件、费用和对室友的要求，不少于150字。

Write an online ad looking for a flatmate. Cover the location, the flat, the cost and what you want in a flatmate. At least 150 characters. Suggested time: 20 minutes.

0 characters / 150 minimum
Show a sample answer (157 characters)

寻找室友
本人在市中心工作，现在租了一套两室一厅的房子，想找一位室友一起住。房子在地铁站附近，走路只要五分钟，周围有超市和医院，生活很方便。房间干净明亮，家具、空调、洗衣机都有，可以直接入住。
房租每月两千五百元，水电费两人平分。希望你有稳定的工作，爱干净，不抽烟，晚上不要太晚回家。如果你喜欢做饭，我们周末可以一起做饭。
有兴趣的朋友请给我发消息，可以先来看房。
- Cover every point the prompt lists. Practical writing is marked partly on whether all the information is there.
- Use a title and short paragraphs, as a real ad would.
- End with how to get in touch.
你的公司下个月要组织员工参加一次公益活动。请写一份通知，说明活动的时间、地点、内容和报名方法，不少于150字。

Write a notice to staff about a volunteer event next month: time, place, what you will do, and how to sign up. At least 150 characters. Suggested time: 20 minutes.

0 characters / 150 minimum
Show a sample answer (160 characters)

关于参加公益活动的通知
各位同事：
为了帮助社区里的老人，公司决定在下个月十五日（星期六）上午九点到十二点组织一次公益活动。活动地点是阳光社区的老年活动中心，公司会安排大巴，八点在公司门口出发。
活动内容主要有：帮老人打扫房间、陪老人聊天，以及教老人使用手机。
请愿意参加的同事在本月三十日以前，把姓名和电话发给办公室小李。名额有限，报满为止。
办公室十月二十日
- A notice has a title, a greeting, the facts in order, and a signature with the date.
- Short paragraphs make each piece of information easy to find.

Short essay

HSK 4 question 70 (at least 80 characters) and HSK 5 question 72 (at least 200 characters).

有人认为，科技的发展让人与人之间的关系更近了；也有人认为，科技让人变得更孤独。你怎么看？请写一篇议论文，不少于300字。

Some say technology brings people closer; others say it makes people lonelier. What do you think? Write an argument essay of at least 300 characters. Suggested time: 30 minutes.

0 characters / 300 minimum
Show a sample answer (317 characters)

科技让人更近还是更远？我认为，科技本身并不会让人孤独，关键在于我们怎样使用它。
首先，科技确实缩短了人与人之间的距离。过去，在国外留学的学生一年只能给家里打几次电话；现在，通过视频，他们每天都能看到父母。很多多年没有联系的老同学，也因为网络又重新联系上了。
然而，我们也不能否认，有些人把太多时间花在了手机上。一家人坐在一起吃饭，每个人却都低着头看屏幕，彼此之间的交流反而少了。还有一些孩子宁愿在网上和陌生人聊天，也不愿意和父母说说心里话。这种情况下，人们虽然在一起，心却离得很远。
由此可见，问题不在于科技，而在于人的选择。如果我们能合理安排时间，在需要的时候用科技联系远方的人，在面对身边的人时放下手机，那么科技就会成为拉近关系的工具。
总之，科技本身没有好坏。只要使用得当，它带给我们的好处一定会多于坏处。
- State your view in the first paragraph and repeat it in the last.
- Give each paragraph one reason with a concrete example.
- Linking words like 首先, 然而, 由此可见, 总之 show the structure of the argument.

Checking your own writing

Did you do what was asked? Every point in the prompt should appear in your answer, and the given word should be used with its normal meaning.
Count the characters. Punctuation does not count. Aim a little over the minimum.
Read each sentence for word order. Time and place usually come before the verb: 我昨天在家看书. Most writing mistakes are about word order rather than vocabulary.
Check the characters you were unsure of. A simpler word you can write correctly is better than a harder one with a wrong component.

For a full guide to each task, with common mistakes, see the HSK writing guide. The grammar points for HSK 4 and HSK 5 cover the linking structures that essays rely on.